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FamiliesMatter
Issue 53 Spring 2021
A magazine full of news and information to support your work with families
Putting families
first
We’ve been working to
support families during
2020, including:
● Helping parents to
support their children
with blended learning at
home and school
● Providing parenting
advice, including
evening and weekends
support for parents in
need
● Tackling food insecurity
● Supporting shielding
families with serious
health conditions
● Encouraging play during
lockdown linked to our
work to promote the
importance of play with
the launch of the Play
Charter (see pages
10-17).
We will continue to help
families adjust and build
resilience to the ‘new
normal’.
www.towerhamlets.gov.
uk/parentfamilysupport
INSIDE
2-9 Parental Engagement Team 29-30 Health and Wellbeing
10-17 Play 31-34 Parent Voice
18-21 Early Years and School 35-36 Community
22-28 Parent Support and Safeguarding 37 Useful Contacts
2 Parental Engagement Team
Welcome to the Working with families?
spring edition of
Join the Parental Engagement Team’s network mailing list
Families Matter
If you work with families in the borough, sign up to the Parental
Over the past year, we have all Engagement Team’s network mailing list to receive the latest news
had to adapt in the face of the and information. Encourage your colleagues to sign up too.
pandemic and the changes we Email parentalengagement@towerhamlets.gov.uk
made were not something we
could have easily prepared or
planned for. It has been a steep
learning curve and as we got Families Matter Bitesize
to grips with lockdown, Zoom,
Microsoft Teams and virtual E-bulletin
meetings, it was amazing to In addition to our
see how much families and termly magazine, we Families Matter
professionals could adapt. publish a monthly Bitesize E-bulletin
e-bulletin which
Parental Engagement
The Parent and Family Support
School Transition
Parenting
Service worked hard so provides regular SEND
Local Offer
updates, information,
Information
services could be delivered Support
Holiday Childcare
safely and online while advice and support Parent Voice
maintaining telephone support for parents in Tower Messages from the Parent and Family Support Service
and advice for families. The Hamlets. Parents
Holiday Childcare Scheme was can sign up via the
still running and parent groups council’s resident
including the Somali Network, subscriber list by The Parent and Family Support
SEND Ambassadors and the choosing ‘children
Service’s advice is really on point
Parent and Carer Council and education’ as
moved meetings online. We their preferred topic and easy for parents to access
also launched a monthly after closing the and understand. They provide a
Families Matter Bitesize initial pop-up box fantastic service and are dedicated
E-bulletin. and completing the to ensuring our children and families
form on the sign get the best deal.
As we start the new year, we
up page at www.
will continue with our online Dawn Pritchard, Assistant Headteacher
towerhamlets.gov.
activities and provide many and SENCO, Shapla Primary School
uk/signup
opportunities for parents
to come together, share
experiences and access
information, which in turn This magazine is produced by the Parental Engagement Team
supports their children. within the Parent and Family Support Service, Children and
This edition is packed with Culture Directorate. To share news in future editions of Families
information and dates for Matter magazine contact
your diary, so sign up for one Fiona Stokes
of the parenting courses and Tel: 020 7364 6049
learn something new or join an Email: fiona.stokes@towerhamlets.gov.uk
online parent group to share
References to ‘parents’ describes any caregiver responsible for
experiences in 2021.
the care, protection and upbringing of a child or young person,
Best wishes, including foster parents or connected persons, grandparents,
Jill McGinley sibling or other family members.
Head of Parent and Family
References to ‘SEND’ as used in some articles is the abbreviation
Support Service
of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
Parental Engagement Team 3
Parent and Family Support Service
We provide relevant up-to-
date information and support to
Statistics for 2020
help parents in Tower Hamlets
to feel more confident in their
10,500+ 11,242 46,695
role as parents, have the Parents Calls User
knowledge and confidence to accessed received by sessions
support their child’s learning Parent and the Family recorded
and have sufficient emotional Family Support Information Service by the
resilience, skills and capacity Services Local Offer
to provide warm, responsive
and safe parenting. We do this
by providing early intervention,
prevention and targeted 500 342 130
support within schools, early
years settings and the wider Play and activity Parents Parents
community. bags were were received
distributed to referred to one-to-one support
Just as we were about to hold children who were a parenting based on evidence-
our annual parent conference shielding programme based parenting
last March, the country went into strategies
lockdown. We informed the 180
parents who booked that the
conference would not be taking 168 67 14
place. It was a very sad day.
Parents Parents Dads
Since then we have adapted our attended attended and male carers
services, launched the Families Healthy Families the first virtual attended the Dads’
Matter Bitesize E-bulletin,
programmes Parent and Carer Network meeting on
developed an online parenting
Council meeting on Zoom
support offer and established a
Zoom
virtual online network through
the Parent Carer Council, SEND
Ambassadors, Somali Network
and schools’ ‘Let’s Talk/Platform
352 410 787
to Talk’ activities to ensure New referrals Parents Parents
parents continue to have the received by attended attended
information and support they SENDIAS Team to transition curriculum &
need. support families information sessions information
workshops
The Parent and Family
Support Service includes:
● Parental Engagement Team
● SEND Information, Advice 667 700
and Support (SEND IAS) 1-1 support Children of working parents,
● Parenting, Schools and school- key workers and vulnerable
Families based family families were supported by the
● Transition Service support Tower Hamlets Holiday Childcare Scheme
● Family Information Service interventions took
place
● Local Offer
● Holiday Childcare Scheme
www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/parentfamilysupport
4 Parental Engagement Team
An update from the Parental
Engagement Schools and Families Team
Due to the pandemic, the team’s
mode of delivery had to change
overnight and practitioners
quickly developed new ways
to support families. These
included moving sessions online,
developing a range of blended
learning opportunities using
Zoom for group and one-to-
one sessions and implementing
Covid-secure in person sessions
for targeted families.
Schools and family practitioners
also quickly put together
resources and a list of
recommended websites to
support families with home
learning. These were sent
directly to schools as well
as placed on the Local Offer
website. The team worked
closely with family support
practitioners to identify areas Since the information sessions
where families needed support.
They then developed a
for parents with children who
would be starting in the Early
55
online sessions from March
programme of online workshops. Years Foundation Stage were
to November
441
no longer taking place, the
Supporting parents to team devised online sessions to
navigate the new learning prepare families. Parents really parents attended
landscape valued the opportunity to ask
Sessions ranged from supporting questions and to find out what to
100%
children’s learning in maths, expect once their child started of parents said they found
reading and writing to navigating school and how to prepare their the sessions useful*
online learning. child over the holidays.
100%
Experienced practitioners of parents had a greater
guided parents through the understanding of the topic
process so that they felt It’s been really useful as a result of attending*
confident accessing their child’s
online learning. Practitioners
listening to the advice
about preparing my son for
100%
were also used as a source for of parents discovered
reliable information given the school. The team were so something new to try
amount of misinformation that is helpful and I learned a lot. at home as a result of
online – they provided families Parent attending*
with safe websites they could
*of parents who completed an evaluation
use to support learning at home.
Parental Engagement Team 5
Virtual parent
sessions for 2021
#YourDigitalFamily –
join the fun Following a very successful
Does your family know its TikTok programme of virtual sessions
from its Twitter, Deliveroo from for parents in 2020, the Parental
Discord or Bieber from Baby
Thank you all. It was Engagement Team has launched
Shark? honestly such a nice a new schedule of sessions for
evening with kids to 2021.
The Parental Engagement
do this quiz.
Team have recently launched The sessions have proved to be
Parent
a fun new family quiz event an invaluable source of support
which will test your family’s tech Was great to be off for parents at a time when they
knowledge. the telly and have may be struggling to navigate
the new learning landscape.
The online quiz is suitable for some fun with other 100% of the parents who
parents and secondary school- families and meet attended and completed an end
aged children who can take part some new people :) of session evaluation said they
from the comfort of their own Parent would recommend the sessions
home.
to other parents.
I enjoyed this very
All you need to join is an
internet-enabled device, such as much I hope we can The spring term timetable of
do it again, it was fun parent sessions can be found on
a smartphone, tablet or laptop.
pages 6-7.
debating with family
Friday 5 and 12 February, and having an overall For information on the
7pm - 9pm, via Zoom good time. courses, upcoming dates and
Parent how to book visit the www.
Prizes to be won!
localoffertowerhamlets.co.uk/
For more details and to sign up Great energy Parental blog_articles/2811-support-
Email: parentalengagement@ Engagement Team! children-s-learning-with-free-
towerhamlets.gov.uk Parent virtual-sessions-for-parents.
Tel: 020 7364 6398 Email: parentalengagement@
towerhamlets.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7364 6398
6 Parental Engagement Team
Parent sessions to support
children’s learning and wellbeing
The Parental Engagement Team has launched a new schedule of online sessions for 2021. The
sessions have proved to be an invaluable source of support for parents at a time when they may be
struggling to navigate the new learning landscape.
From information about new learning approaches including ‘blended learning’ to tips on supporting
learning at home and staying healthy, the sessions provide a safe space for parents to share their
experiences, ask questions and pick up some handy tips from experienced practitioners.
To accommodate parents who may be busy home-schooling or working, weekend and evening
sessions are now being offered.
Date/time Session Description
Thursday Learning in the In this workshop for parents of nursery and reception class
28 January early years children, you’ll find out about the Early Years Foundation
10 - 11am Stage and discover how you can use every day experiences
to enhance your child’s learning.
Monday Supporting your This is an uncertain time for everyone. Children are often
1 February child’s wellbeing more aware of what’s going on than we think. They might not
10 - 11am and mental health understand the news, but that doesn’t mean they can’t sense
that something is up. You might not be sure how best to talk
about what’s going on, but it’s important we pay attention to
their mental health.
Friday Digital Family Quiz Does your family know its TikTok from its Twitter, Deliveroo
5 February #YourDigitalFamily from Discord or Bieber from Baby Shark? Take part in this
7 - 9pm fun family quiz night and test your family’s tech knowledge.
Suitable for parents and secondary school aged children.
Prizes to be won!
Saturday Support with This workshop, which is delivered through Zoom, will give you
6 February online learning an opportunity to look at examples of school websites as well
1 - 2.30pm as on-line learning portals such as Google Classroom and
Purple Mash, to name a few.
Monday Platform to Talk – With exams being cancelled, some young people are feeling
8 February keeping teens there is little point to online lessons. This timely session
10 - 11am motivated to learn for parents of secondary school children will explore what
parents can do to motivate teens and help prepare them for
their future.
Thursday E-safety and With children learning at home, online safety has never
11 February learning been more important. This workshop looks at practical steps
10 - 11am parents can take to safeguard children and explains the latest
social media and gaming apps children may be using to
communicate online.
Parental Engagement Team 7
Date/time Session Description
Friday Digital Family Quiz Does your family know its TikTok from its Twitter, Deliveroo
12 February #YourDigitalFamily from Discord or Bieber from Baby Shark? Take part in this
7 - 9pm fun family quiz night and test your family’s tech knowledge.
Suitable for parents and secondary school-aged children.
Prizes to be won!
Monday Learning in the In this workshop for parents of nursery and reception class
1 March early years children, you’ll find out about the Early Years Foundation
10 - 11am Stage and discover how you can use every day experiences
to enhance your child’s learning.
Tuesday Mindfulness Mindfulness is about developing awareness and being in
2 March the present moment. With the unpredictability of the current
5 - 6pm times we find ourselves in, children may be more anxious
than usual. Join the session to pick up some useful strategies
that may help to create a sense of calm.
Wednesday Reading at Key Gain an insight into how reading is taught at school. Discover
3 March Stage 2 how to motivate reluctant readers and how you can support
5 - 6pm your child’s reading development at home.
Friday Reading at Key Gain an insight into how reading is taught at school. Discover
5 March Stage 1 how to motivate reluctant readers and how you can support
10 - 11am your child’s reading development at home.
Thursday E- safety and With children learning at home, online safety has never
4 March learning been more important.This workshop looks at practical steps
6 - 7.30pm parents can take to safeguard children and explains the latest
social media and gaming apps children may be using to
communicate online
Wednesday Healthy Families Is your family snacking too much or finding it difficult to be
10 March active? In this workshop, you’ll have the chance to share your
10 - 11am concerns, pick up some ideas for quick, easy meals and
discover ways to get the family more active!
Wednesday Maths at Key Gain an insight into what your child is learning in Maths at Key
17 March Stage 2 Stage 2 and discover how to use the internet and other tools
5 - 6pm to encourage mathematical thinking and motivate reluctant
learners.
Friday Maths at Gain an insight into what your child is learning in Maths at Key
19 March Key Stage 1 Stage 1 and discover how to use the internet and other tools
5 - 6pm to encourage mathematical thinking and motivate reluctant
learners.
For more details or to join a session email parentalengagement@towerhamlets.gov.uk
stating the session and date you would like to attend along with your
school’s name and child’s age
8 Parental Engagement Team
Parental engagement professionals
network meeting
The parental engagement Staff agreed communication was Interesting and informative,
professionals network meeting key, and with information in the thank you.
provides those who work with media changing daily, working Janice Hill Kocoglu
parents in schools with an in partnership with parents is Family Learning and Parental
opportunity to network, consider crucial to ensure families engage Engagement Coordinator
the challenges when working with schools and children are Shadwell and St Katharine’s
with families and share best kept safe. Collaborative of Schools
practice.
Through the network, staff also
Recent meeting themes include receive Covid-19 updates from
‘keeping families informed meeting see the information
Katie Cole, Associate Director,
– engaging parents during and training for professionals
Public Health and updates on
Covid-19’ and discussions timetable below.
the changes to SEND provision
around supporting play during
from Christine McInnes,
the pandemic with the launch For more information or to
of the new Tower Hamlets Play Divisional Director, Education
register your place
Charter. and Partnerships.
Email: parentalengagement@
Staff are given the chance to To view the date of the next towerhamlets.gov.uk
discuss how they are supporting
For ideas to promote play and information on the Play Charter
families through school closures,
which sets out the importance of play to children’s
financial hardship, food poverty
learning and development see pages 10-17.
and other challenges.
Parent and Family Support Service –
information and training for professionals
Date/time Description
Wednesday Parenting Exchange (delivered virtually)
3 February The Parental Engagement Team will facilitate a parenting exchange group to bring together
3 - 4.30pm different organisations in Tower Hamlets to explore current parenting provision and establish
an information sharing network. If you are interested, please email your name, role and
organisation to parenting@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Wednesday Annual Parent and Carer Conference (delivered virtually via Zoom)
17 March Save the date – further information on how to book places for parents will be available
10am - 2.30pm shortly.
Wednesday Parental engagement professionals network meeting (delivered virtually)
12 May Provides an opportunity for all staff working with parents in schools to network, consider the
10 - 11.30am challenges when working with parents and share best practice.
For more information, charges or to book a place, contact Husna Begum.
Email: parentalengagement@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7364 1952
No course charge applies to schools/settings that have a Service Level Agreement with the Parent
and Family Support Service for 2020-21.
All places will be confirmed one week before the course/session.
Late or no notice of cancellation may result in a charge to your school or setting.
Parental Engagement Team 9
‘Platform to Talk’ virtual sessions for parents
Now more than ever parents
need a safe space to come
together, share their experiences
and get reliable information.
That’s why the Parental
Engagement Team have
recently launched regular
‘Platform to Talk’ sessions, led by
experienced practitioners from
the Schools and Families Team.
The virtual sessions will cover a
range of topical issues, such as
health and wellbeing, family life,
parenting and school.
The next ‘Platform to Talk’
The first session was on the session for parents of secondary
topic of ‘Growing Up’ with school children will be ‘Keeping
parents of children aged four Teens Motivated to Learn’. With I really enjoyed
to 17 years old. Parents shared
exams being cancelled, some listening and talking to
their concerns that children
young people are feeling there is you all. I feel as though
little point to online lessons. This I am not alone in this.
were becoming more isolated timely session will explore what
and reliant on devices and their parents can do to motivate teens
Some great advice.
worries around home schooling and help prepare them for their Thank you.
and children falling behind in future. Parent
their learning.
Keeping Teens Motivated
Practitioners shared helpful to Learn
advice on children’s changing Monday 8 February
To find out more, book your
emotions as they grow up and 10 - 11.30am
place or suggest themes
strategies to encourage open Future sessions
and positive communication for future sessions email
Monday 8 March
between parents and their Monday 12 April parentalengagement@
children. 10am - 11.30am towerhamlets.gov.uk
Family fun resource to support learning,
play and wellbeing
Children learn best through ‘hands-on’ experiences. Since they are spending more leisure and
learning time online, it’s important they have a break from ‘screen time’ to have fun and to explore
real life materials. This is why the Parental Engagement Team have developed a series of family fun
sheets which will be sent fortnightly to all primary schools in the borough. The sheets are packed
full of creative ideas that will support learning, play and wellbeing. See page 10 for the first sheet in
the series.
Keep an eye out for these resources in your school newsletter or you can request your own by
emailing parentalengagement@towerhamlets.gov.uk
10 Play
Family Fun!
Ideas to support
learning, play and
well-being
Junk modelling
Don’t throw waste packaging away - children can use it to
create models! In these times where it may be difficult to access
art materials, it’s a great way to keep them busy while allowing
them to create and innovate. You don’t need to ‘teach’ them
how to make something, instead allow them to explore the
materials and let them come up with their own ideas.
Encourage them to talk about their creations afterwards!
Writing commands
Having lots of scrap paper and things like post-its around the
house can really encourage children to write. Writing doesn’t
have to be in an exercise book - using unusual materials like post
its can motivate even reluctant writers. Children need
opportunities to do different types of writing- stories, instructions
and commands. Encourage them to use post-its to write their
own commands and place them all around the home. They could
be commands like ‘Take off your shoes’ or ‘Turn off the lights!’
Rainbow breaths
Stand with your feet apart, arms resting by your side.
Raise your arms and take a deep breath in. Breathe in
until your hands reach each other over your head.
Breathe out slowly while lowering the hands. Visualise
the rainbow you are making. Each time you breathe in
imagine you are adding another colour to your
rainbow. Once your rainbow is done, open your eyes.
Ditch the dip!
Ditch high fat dips like mayonnaise and create your own healthy
alternative. Just mix some low-fat yoghurt together with a clove
of finely chopped garlic and season with a little salt and pepper.
Try it with some roughly chopped, crunchy vegetables- delicious!
Produced by
The Parental Engagement Subscribe to our e-bulletin
Schools and Family Team www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/parentfamilysupportPlay 11
Launch of new Play Charter
The new Tower Hamlets Play Play is fundamental to a child’s
Charter was developed over development. It helps them to
many months with partners learn about the world around
from across the borough. It them, make friends, be healthy Play is fundamental to
sets out the partnership’s vision and have fun.
a child’s development,
for play in Tower Hamlets. It
calls on residents, businesses, We hope you enjoy reading helping them to learn
voluntary organisations and the Play Charter and will use its about the world around
principles and commitments to
charities, providers of childcare them, make friends, be
and education, the council and create opportunities for play in
the work of your organisation. healthy and have fun.
developers to be imaginative
and create initiatives, or build on To view the Play Charter visit Play Charter
existing projects, which embed www.localoffertowerhamlets.
play into the daily lives of our co.uk/documents/1402-tower-
children and young people. hamlets-play-charter.pdf
The Play Charter has 5 principles
1 2 3 4 5
Prepared to Learning Inclusive Outdoor Play for
learn through play play play all
Play Charter working group
A Play Charter working group has been formed to support
implementation of the charter and bring together different
organisations from across Tower Hamlets who are passionate about
play and what it has to offer children and families.
If you are interested in being part of this group, contact Jill McGinley
Email: jill.mcginley@towerhamlets.gov.uk12 Play
The importance of play
An overview by the Holiday Childcare Team
The United Nations Convention Charter which was approved during Covid-19. Our holiday
on the Rights of the Child by the Children and Families schemes have been open during
(UNCRC) lists 54 articles Partnership Board in November. the pandemic with rigorous risk
(www.unicef.org.uk/wp- The Parent and Family Support assessments and COVID-secure
content/uploads/2019/10/ Service will facilitate a play measures in place.
UNCRC_summary-1_1.pdf) working group with leaders from
the voluntary and the third sector In August we hosted a play day
covering all aspects of children’s
who deliver play activities and event for children who attend the
rights which all member states
services. summer scheme – children took
excluding the United States have
part in an exciting sports day
accepted. In 1992 the convention The Holiday Childcare Team
was ratified by the United event. Usually we would have
is committed to play and the organised daily trips for children
Kingdom. five principles listed in the Play to gain new experiences,
Charter: however, we adapted and
Article 31: instead offered virtual trips for
1. Prepared to play
Every child has the right to children to explore places such
2. Learning through play
relax, play and take part in a
3. Inclusive play as the Eiffel Tower, NASA, Mexico
wide range of cultural and
4. Outdoor play City and the Cincinnati Zoo.
artistic activities.
5. Play for all
Our scheme newsletters provide
Tower Hamlets is supporting The Holiday Childcare Team has further information on how we
children’s rights through the been crucial in ensuring that promote play within the service
launch of our very first Play children have access to play and holiday schemes.Play 13
Leading the way...
Quality in Play Sanctuary Award
The Holiday Childcare The scheme also
Scheme underwent received a Sanctuary
an accreditation Award, making it the
process in 2020 to first holiday club in the
obtain Quality in Play UK to be recognised
status, which is awarded for demonstrating in this way. The award
quality and value for money whilst creating from Sanctuary City UK recognises networks,
and maintaining excellent staffed play groups and organisations which foster a
environments. welcoming and inclusive culture for people
who are fleeing violence or persecution.
Accreditation involves producing a portfolio The scheme has a long tradition of inclusive
of evidence covering 11 quality areas, practice and we are pleased to be recognised
ranging from the physical play environment as a leading holiday club on inclusive practice
to workforce development. Following an in the play sector.
inspection of our February 2020 scheme, we
were awarded a Certificate of Confirmation.
Mick Conway, Quality in Play Assessor,
said: “The organisation of the portfolio was
meticulous following the ‘commitment,
action, review’ format for each quality area. I
was particularly impressed by how children’s
feedback on previous schemes is built
into forward planning and procurement
of equipment, materials and trips out. For
example, cooking and baking sessions had
been introduced following requests from the
children after a couple of trial sessions which
were very popular. There is a specific focus
on ‘non-gendering’ play activities across the
scheme and I noted that a number of boys
were very proud of the cushions they had
made and sewed.”
Millie’s Mark in paediatric first aid.
The scheme also achieved the Millie’s Mark The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
accreditation from National Day Nurseries guidelines, which childcare settings in England
Association. are required to follow, currently state that
Millie’s Mark is awarded to nurseries, early years just one person with a current paediatric first
and childcare settings where: aid certificate must be on the premises and
available at all times when children are present
● all staff members who work with children are or on outings.
qualified in paediatric first aid and have well-
deployed first aid processes
● individual policies and procedures evidence
exemplary practice
● providers go above and beyond minimum
requirements by having 100% of staff trained14 Play
Supporting
children’s play
Children play naturally as a
way of learning about the
world around them. Play
is not wasted time – when
children play, they are learning
important skills. Parents and
those working with children
The benefits of outdoor play
can give them a better start Busier family lives, combined a world packed with directed
in life by providing more with an increased sense of fear activities, simply running around
interesting and varied play in in society as well as Covid-19 without direction can be a stress
the early years. restrictions, means that children reliever.
● Play is messy today have fewer opportunities
to play and learn outside. Helps intellectual
Young children love to play
development
with water, sand, paint There are concerns that this
● Play is sociable could be hampering children’s A child’s intellectual
Children learn to make social skills as well as risking development can be enhanced
friends and to work together stifling their long-term physical when they experience using
● Play is good for health and emotional development all of their senses as well as
Children exercise and and wellbeing. Spending time their bodies and minds. Being
develop control of their safely outdoors (as part of our outdoors requires children to
bodies which is important. daily exercise allowance) can use their sense of touch, sight,
boost our wellbeing, especially sound and smell, along with their
Support children’s play by: during the winter months when major muscle groups, which
● Having a playful approach we have less exposure to increases the chances of quality
with them sunlight. learning.
● Listening to them and Helps physical development Helps children deal with
valuing what they say change
Some physical skills are much
● Valuing friendships and
easier for children to develop Unstructured outdoor play
children’s time with each
outside – running, jumping, not only leads to additional
other
throwing, catching and skipping cognitive development, but it
● Letting them initiate their are some of the large motor
own play and play on their can also build self-confidence.
skill activities that are best Children who play outdoors in
own developed outdoors. varied environments are more
● Building on their interests
Being outside encourages comfortable outside of the
● Talking to them about their
movement which, in turn, confines of their home. These
play
reduces the risk of obesity. It is children can transition better
● Allowing them to take risks reported that outdoor play also into new settings and are more
in their play. reduces tension and stress. In confident in dealing with change.Play 15
The importance of risk in play
Risk taking is an essential feature
of play. Children need the
chance to encounter acceptable
risks as part of a stimulating
learning environment. They need
to take risks in order to explore
limits, try new experiences and
develop their capacities.
Experience of managing risk
helps keep children safe. It
is important for families and
professionals working with
children to strike the right
balance between keeping
children safe and allowing At a time when play and social know their limits. Most children
them the freedom they need. If interaction may be restricted, know when to stop before it
children learn about managing it’s important to remember that gets dangerous, so it’s important
risk from an early age, it will give risk in play is a crucial aspect parents and those working with
them more confidence to do of children’s learning and them don’t stifle their sense of
this throughout their childhood. development – it helps children adventure.
Play and the Covid-19 pandemic
Practitioners and parents
observing children’s play
during the pandemic have a
unique chance to contribute
to an archive that will inform
future generations about how
children’s play experiences
changed due to Covid-19.
Researchers from the University
of Reading are compiling an
archive for future generations.
The Pandemic Play Archive
will be an online collection of – for example, the virus, Practitioners and parents may
memories depicting examples social distancing, lockdown, only upload materials that they
of children’s play.
medical procedures or where are happy to be shared openly
The researchers are keen the circumstances have led with a public audience. For
to hear from parents and children to play in novel or copyright reasons, only parents
practitioners who have unique ways. or guardians can submit
observed interesting play photographs of children.
during the pandemic. They The written descriptions,
would like written descriptions, drawings and/or photographs More details at
drawings and/or photographs can be created by adults who https://merl.reading.ac.uk/
of play where the theme of the have observed children’s play merl-collections/research-
play is related to the pandemic or by children themselves. projects/pandemic-play/16 Play
Playing with
marks
Children are natural mark-
makers. From very early on
they make marks on surfaces.
It may look like they are ‘just
playing’, but in fact, they are
developing skills for writing.
Mark-making is so much more
than pencil on paper, so when
you are working with children,
be experimental and make
sure they have access to a
wide range of materials.
Glamis Adventure Playground Play with marks by:
supports local families ● Making marks with shaving
foam, cornflour slime or
Glamis Adventure Playground, site into different areas. Once sand
managed by Shadwell the online register and booking ● Pressing fingers or objects
Community Project (SCP), used system was on the website, they into playdough to create
the March lockdown to support opened their gates for summer marks
the community in different ways, play and ran a full summer
● Making marks with water
make changes to the project and project with no Covid-19 cases.
using paint-brushes or
plan for their re-opening. When government guidelines
cotton buds
allowed, the project continued to
Through immediate contact book in bubbles. ● Painting using an easel and
with local families, the project large brushes
discovered that they needed The second lockdown in ● Using chalks to mark the
devices to access online November brought new ground
schooling and screen-based challenges but as outdoor play
● Making rubbings of rough
learning activities for children. is so important, now more than
surfaces
While directing families to ever, they quickly re-focused
available services, SCP made their attention on the needs of ● Creating your own mark-
funding applications for tablets local families who lack outside making tools using things
and delivered play parcels. space. Creating family bubble like twigs and feathers.
play sessions, the project
Refurbishments made to the welcomed groups of six for an
site during lockdown included hour, three days a week, in line
a fixed zip wire, sand and water with the social distancing rules
play opportunities. These new at the time.
additions complement the big
swings, treehouse, boat as well With all that Glamis Adventure
as the playworker led creative Playground has done to support
activities. With the improvements local families through the
in place, Glamis set its sights on pandemic, it’s no wonder that
opening safely for the summer. Cllr Rabina Khan has nominated
They reviewed all procedures the vital play facility for a well-
and risk assessments, sourced deserved ‘Covid Hero’ award!
new food suppliers, re-inducted
staff, put signs and sanitiser More details, visit: www.
dispensaries up and marked the shadwellcommunityproject.orgPlay 17
Hungry Little Minds
Hungry Little Minds is a reinforces key messages from Words Together. These evidence
campaign from the Department the Every Tower Hamlets Child -based programmes aim to
of Education (DfE) in response a Talker (ETHCaT) programme, reduce the number of children
to the government’s pledge to which the Early Years Integrated still entering school below
reduce the number of children Service has been delivering
age related expectations for
who finish Reception without since 2013.
communication and language.
the communication, language Other local early intervention
and literacy skills they need to programmes that support the For more details
thrive. The campaign is aimed home learning environment Email: charlotte.herxheimer@
at parents and carers and are Bookstart Corner and Early towerhamlets.gov.uk
Calling Tower Hamlets young musicians!
Tower Hamlets Arts & Music online throughout this past year,
Education Service (THAMES) including performing online
are looking for new members concerts and creating music
to join their music centres and videos.
ensembles. For more information or
From orchestras and choirs to register, visit thames.
to inclusive ensembles and towerhamlets.gov.uk
bands, there’s a broad range of For general enquiries:
opportunities for young people
aged 7-18 of all musical abilities. Email: THAMES.admin@
towerhamlets.gov.uk
Music activities have continued Tel: 020 7364 0431
Music Centres and Ensembles
Saturday Music Centre Saturdays, 9am - 12.30pm
Wednesday Music Centre Wednesdays, 4 - 6pm
Primary Choir Mondays, 4.30 - 5.30pm
Youth Orchestra School holiday courses
Soundbox Inclusive Ensemble Saturdays (fortnightly), 10.30am - 1pm18 Early Years and School
Message from
Councillor
Danny Hassell
Despite the ongoing pressures
from Covid-19, our services
for children and families
have continued. We remain
committed to supporting
our community during these times. Our schools
have been doing a fantastic job of keeping our
children safe at school, acting where needed and
continuing to provide a strong educational offer.
The excellent work of our schools has been
recognised in the Sunday Times. Mayflower
Primary School was named as primary school
of the year (for the second time). Several other
Tower Hamlets schools – St Edmund’s, Sir William
Burrough, Blue Gate Fields Junior, Bigland Green
and English Martyrs – also appeared in the top
500 list. Congratulations to you all!
We have also secured a £100m plus package of
capital investment for our secondary schools –
releasing funding for new secondary schools at
London Dock and Westferry and for a rebuild of Children’s centres
are open during
George Green’s School. This investment into high-
quality secondary school buildings will ensure our
children have state-of-the-art facilities to support
their learning. lockdown
Last term the council continued with its roll out of All 12 children’s centres in Tower Hamlets
over 2,000 laptops for Year 10 children in receipt of will remain open throughout lockdown for
free school meals and those children with a social vulnerable children. Health and safety remains
worker. This will help improve digital inclusion a top priority – for staff, families and the
across the borough and support home learning. community. The children’s centres have adapted
Other charities and schools are also supporting their services to be ‘Covid-secure’ and they will
laptops for more of their families too. We have continue to offer:
also supported families with food costs over the ● Health appointments
Christmas break with £25 supermarket vouchers
● Early learning for two-years-olds
for 18,000 children in the borough.
● Face-to-face support for vulnerable, and
Whilst there has been such positive news with the newly vulnerable, parents.
start of a vaccine roll-out, we all need to continue
to play our part to help keep our community safe The centres will be following the latest
over the coming months. This means following government guidance, which means timetables
the government guidelines, getting tested and and services are subject to change.
isolating if you (or someone you live with) have Please make an appointment before you visit by
symptoms and remembering ‘hands, face, space’. phoning your local children’s centre.
Cllr Danny Hassell For up to date information, visit
Cabinet Member for Children and Schools www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/childrenscentres
London Borough of Tower HamletsEarly Years and School 19
Razia Begum, parent, collecting books for her son Kate Wheeler, William Davis Teacher reading for
during lockdown pupils during an online story session
Working together to uphold a love of
reading during Covid-19
A message from Annika Eadie, Headteacher, William Davis Primary School
This month I Tower Hamlets Schools Library promoting family story times,
took part in the Service ensures that schools could have real impact.
Association of have up-to-date fiction and
Senior Children’s nonfiction; they run exciting At William Davis we continue
and Education events to engage our children to look for creative and flexible
Librarians (ASCEL) national as readers. Tower Hamlets solutions to make sure that
conference. As part of this, I public libraries and Idea Stores reading stays centre stage.”
reflected on the challenges encourage reading for pleasure;
and creative solutions required, they engage children through
particularly around reading, events e.g. the Summer Reading
during Covid-19 times. Challenge.
Parents, schools and library There remain challenges for the
services all work together library service during Covid-19.
to ensure that children love Our families require greater
reading. At William Davis we access to online resources and
believe learning to read is the additional support to overcome
most important thing every child language and literacy barriers.
will learn at school. We want all But creative solutions such
children to love reading – and to as increased access to audio
want to read for themselves. books, online story sessions, and Annika Eadie, Headteacher
William Davis Primary School20 Early Years and School
Craft bags for Learning packs at
children at St John’s Stephen Hawking
Children learn best through hands-on When parents have a good relationship with
experiences. Since they are spending more their child’s school and are involved in their
leisure and learning time online, it’s important learning, children have the best outcomes.
that they also have opportunities to handle real That’s the guiding principle behind the Parental
life materials. Exploring materials and expressing Engagement Team’s work and one that is shared
themselves through arts and crafts can provide an by Stephen Hawking School. They have been
emotional release and help reduce anxiety. working in partnership providing learning packs
to support children’s home learning during the
Rashina Begum and Denise Foster, family support holidays or when they cannot attend school.
partners, have been working tirelessly to ensure
all early years and Key Stage 1 children (as well as The packs, which are themed according
isolating families) at St John’s Primary School had to the season, feature activities devised by
a stimulating craft bag to keep them busy over the specialist teachers at the school. The Parental
festive period. Engagement Team have been sharing Some
of their emotional wellbeing resources for
With generous donations from the Bromley by the packs. This approach reflects the school’s
Bow Centre and supplementary literacy resources ethos of building relationships with families and
provided by Pyjamarama Books, the children were partners to ensure that children attending the
set for a creative holiday. school achieve their full potential.
Families really valued the craft bags – at These packs help keep the children
a time when children are spending more busy when they are not at school and
time indoors, they were a great way to are encouraging children and parents to
keep them busy over the holidays. learn new skills and interact together.
Denise Foster, PET Family Support Partner Danella Field
St John’s Primary School Pupil Resource CoordinatorEarly Years and School 21
Could your school host the Childcare
Holiday Childcare Scheme? survey 2020
The Tower Hamlets Holiday The Childcare Survey 2020,
Childcare Scheme is Ofsted produced by Coram Family
registered and provides and Childcare, shows a mixed
childcare for children aged 3 to
picture for families in Britain.
13. It is held at schools in Tower
Over the last few years many
Hamlets and runs during the
school holidays (excluding the parents have been able to
Christmas break) from 8am - get more free childcare for
6pm (for working parents) or their three and four year olds.
9am - 5pm. Others who are not entitled to
free childcare still face very
The scheme supports working
parents and offers places to high prices.
children who need additional
To find out more about hosting The survey shows that the
support. In partnership with
the Tower Hamlets Holiday system is too complicated and
Tower Hamlets schools, the
scheme has provided critical Childcare Scheme to provide calls for action to make sure
easy access to childcare for that every family is able to
childcare provision for families
working parents in your school, access high quality childcare.
during the pandemic.
headteachers and school
The scheme are looking for leaders can contact: Read the full report at
new school sites to join its pool Selina Tamana www.familyand
of schools. It provides highly Holiday Childcare Team childcaretrust.org
qualified and experienced staff, Manager
all equipment and covers school Email: selina.tamana@
cleaning costs. towerhamlets.gov.uk
Tower Hamlets Transition Anti-bullying and
Support Service behaviour support
The service provides impartial advice, Need advice on how to deal with bullying and
information and assistance to support children, behaviour issues?
young people and their families during key You can get support by attending a virtual
points of transition. workshop for parents delivered by experienced
Parent and Family Support Service Transition
The service is available to all Tower Hamlets Officers. It will provide tips about what to do if
families and can be accessed via self-referral you’re worried about bullying and behaviour and
or referral from professionals with consent. We will explore ways to help you talk to your child
can help with a range of school issues including and your child’s school about these concerns.
school admissions, managed moves, school
exclusion and bullying. Friday 29 January 2021, 10 – 11.30am
For more information contact Tower Hamlets
Transition Support Service Anti-bullying support workshops will be
delivered on a monthly basis. Future dates can
Tel: 020 7364 1533 be found on page 33.
Email: transitions@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7364 1533
Email: transitions@towerhamlets.gov.uk22 Parent Support and Safeguarding
Parenting
Exchange Group
Whilst Covid-19 has
dominated the past year,
the delivery of parenting
programmes and support for
parents has continued.
New parenting programmes
have been introduced and
existing evidence-based
parenting programmes
Parenting support during adapted so they can be
delivered virtually online.
the pandemic Although this initially brought
challenges, there were also
The Parent and Family Support ● Talk through tried and tested positives, with more flexible
Service recognise that this is behaviour management delivery and improved access
a potentially worrying time strategies for working parents and
for parents and carers as they ● Signpost to online resources parents at home isolating/
juggle the needs of the family and services. shielding or home schooling.
with the additional pressure of
During the spring term,
spending more time at home.
the Parental Engagement
The parenting team provide Team will facilitate a
flexible support and advice I feel that I am a lot calmer Parenting Exchange Group
via telephone, text, email, and when making request of to bring together different
video calls to parents and my teenager now. I have organisations in Tower Hamlets
professionals. learnt a lot of things and to explore current parenting
I’m happy the session is provision and establish an
Experienced practitioners are information sharing network.
on hand to provide parenting online.
advice based on extensive Parent The meeting will take place on:
knowledge of strategies proven
to work. English, Bengali and
Wednesday 3 February
Somali speaking practitioners
3 - 4.30pm
are available where possible. If you are interested in being
part of this group, please
Practitioners can:
I feel happy to attend a send your name, role and
● Offer parenting tips for parents programme delivered organisation to
of children of all ages from in my own language, parenting@towerhamlets.
toddlers to teens practitioners really gov.uk
● Advise on how to talk to helped me to improve my
children who may be worried relationship with my son.
about Covid-19 Parent
To book a place on an online parenting programme or to attend a
virtual parenting group contact the Parenting Team.
Email: parenting@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7364 6398Parent Support and Safeguarding 23
Virtual parenting sessions
Although the parenting team are currently unable to offer group parenting programmes in the
community, they are offering a range of virtual parenting groups.
The parenting groups focus on key topics such as encouraging positive behaviour, getting teens to
cooperate and an introduction to the Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities (SFSC)
programme.
Parenting Programme Timetable Spring Term (delivered virtually)
January – March 2021
Programme Age Additional info Delivery dates
Rolling programme
Birth-18 A five-week shortened version of SFSC adapted
SFSC* Tuesday, Wednesday,
years for virtual delivery. Delivered in Bengali.
Thursday
Birth-18 A five-week shortened version of SFSC adapted Tuesday (evening)
SFSC
years for virtual delivery. Delivered in English. Wednesday
Triple P Group Teen
12-18 years Delivered in English. Tuesday
Programme
18 months -
Triple P Group Delivered in English. Tuesday or Friday
18 years
Triple P Seminars –
18 months - One-off session introducing positive parenting
The Power of Positive Rolling programme
18 years strategies.
Parenting
Triple P Group and
18 months - Topic specific sessions covering a range of Dates TBC
Teen Discussion
18 years parenting concerns. Delivered in English. (one-off sessions)
Group Series
NEW for January 2021. For parents who are
Triple P Family Birth-18
experiencing personal distress from separation Thursday
Transitions years
or divorce which is impacting on their parenting.
For parents of a child with a diagnosis of
ADHD – The Parent
5-18 years Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Dates TBC
Factor
Delivered in English.
Parents’ Emotional First Aid (EFA)
Emotional First Aid Friday
programme. Delivered in English.
An individual online programme for parents
Flexible - at the
18 months- to access and complete at their own pace.
Triple P Online convenience of the
18 years Practitioner support and guidance to complete
parent
the programme is available on request.
* Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities
Get in touch
The parenting team look forward to receiving enquires from parents, carers, early help and social
care colleagues, school staff and other agencies in the borough. For advice, to book a place on the
online parenting programme or to attend a virtual parenting group contact the Parenting Team
Email: parenting@towerhamlets.gov.uk Tel: 020 7364 639824 Parent Support and Safeguarding
Parental engagement – support
for the RSE curriculum
Speakeasy – a course for parents and carers
Today’s children and young can talk to their children more
people are growing up in a confidently about body changes,
complex world and living more feelings, relationships and sex. The Parental Engagement
of their lives online. Although Team have worked hard
this presents many exciting The course allows parents
to come together in a non- to adapt the Speakeasy
opportunities, it also poses
judgemental environment to course to make it
many challenges and risks. In
this environment, children and share their experiences and learn accessible for parents via
young people need to know together through discussions, Zoom. Parents have been
how to be safe and healthy and games and role-play. using the tools they’ve
how to manage their academic, Delivered by accredited picked up, which have been
personal and social lives in a practitioners from the Parental invaluable, this year more
positive way. Engagement Team, who than ever.
Relationships Education is continuously update the material
to ensure its relevance, the Aysha Begum
now compulsory in all primary
Parental Engagement and
schools in England and course now features the latest
Outreach
Relationships and Sex Education resources produced by the Central Foundation
compulsory in all secondary NSPCC, Child Exploitation and
Girls School
schools. Parents are the prime Online Protection (CEOP) and the
educators and have a key role to Department for Education (DfE).
play in delivering this, but many Covering some of today’s most
may feel embarrassed or unsure challenging issues including aims to equip parents with the
how to fulfil this responsibility. social media pressures, child
knowledge and strategies to
The Speakeasy course sexual exploitation (CSE), sexting,
keep their children safe.
addresses this by increasing female genital mutilation
parents’ knowledge, so that they (FGM) and gangs, the course Continued on page 25Parent Support and Safeguarding 25
Course content parents to speak to individual
schools about resources
● Physical and emotional they will be using with their Absolute eye opener for us.
changes taking place at children
Every parent should attend
puberty ● Speakeasy helps parents
understand how they can
this course – I want it in
● Sex education in the context
support their child’s school- school.
of family life
based learning at home Parent
● Identifying and responding to
the age-appropriate needs of ● Where Speakeasy is
children delivered in schools, SRE/
PHSE teachers/leads
● Societal and cultural
contribute to the programme
attitudes towards sex and
and are invited to speak to
sexuality as it relates to
parents usually during week
children
4, giving them an opportunity
● Information on sex and This course was amazing.
to discuss the curriculum,
relationships education in resources used and to dispel It encouraged me to
schools myths and playground ‘mis have these difficult
Additional information talk’ conversations with my
● The programme provides children.
● The Speakeasy course opportunities for parents to Parent
informs parents about ask questions, for two-way
the curriculum, provides dialogue between home and
opportunities to discuss the school and to strengthen
changes and encourages home school relationships.
To find out more about the Speakeasy course and how it can be delivered by Service Level
Agreement in your school email denise.de-goze@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Young people accused of ‘Sadfishing’
‘Sadfishing’ is being reported comments on social media,
by young people as a growing messaging apps or even face-to-
trend which they are finding face. This rejection can damage
difficult to manage. The social their already fragile self-
media phenomenon emerged esteem and leave them feeling
after some celebrities were disappointed by not getting the
accused of posting exaggerated support they need online.
claims about their emotional
problems to generate sympathy In addition, groomers can also
and publicity. What’s worrying is use comments that express a
that young people with genuine need for emotional support as a
mental health issues who seek platform to connect with young
support online can often be people and gain their trust, only
unfairly accused that they are to try and exploit it at a later
‘sadfishing’. point.
There have been increased To find out more about
reports of young people who ‘sadfishing’ and other
have been bullied for ‘sadfishing’. online trends, visit www.
The bullying is usually through digitalawarenessuk.comYou can also read
